Kate Riley narrowed her eyes suspiciously at her mother across the table. It was the first time they’d seen each other in a week, barring, of course, their little interaction earlier today. Her mom had popped into the testing room, gotten just a little too impatient, just a little too clingy, and wanted to find out how things were going before they were really even over. And the worst part of it was, nobody could stop her, because she was a Major now.

           The two of them sat together in the dining hall, with the noise and bustle of students moving and standing up and being seated and all around them. But even though they’d been here for at least three minutes, her mom was strangely silent. That set off all manner of red flags in Kate’s mind – she should have been asking annoying questions about how Kate was doing in the dorm with her roommate. Usually, Mrs. Riley could never get enough information about Kate’s life. Not that her mother was particularly inclined to offer up anything in return.

           But for these weekly lunches, Kate felt that she’d almost escaped her mother’s grasp. The two of them scarcely saw each other anymore since her mom had been promoted. While she was glad that she wasn’t being infantilized with an interrogation, the silence was weird.

           “What’s up with you, Mom?”

           “I don’t know what you mean,” said Mrs. Riley, startling away from her sandwich.

           “Sure you do. You’re always keeping secrets from me, especially since Dad went on the mission. I can tell you’re thinking about something.”

           Mrs. Riley sighed. “That can’t be helped, dear. You know I’m not allowed—but I didn’t think I was quite as transparent as all that. Are you sure you weren’t reading my mind?”

           Kate glowered, and fidgeted with the wrapping on her sandwich. “Stop trying to get me to practice my telepathy. You know that you’d block me out even if I tried.”

           “I told you, I can’t help having secrets. I wish I could share thoughts with you more, but we have some very important things going on right now—”

           “Really? Like what?” she asked, trying to sound casual. Maybe it had something to do with where her father was right now. That was one secret she felt was truly unfair. It was her business too.

           Mrs. Riley frowned. “Kate. Important things. With the military. I can’t tell you.”

           “Well, just so you know, I don’t really mind that you’re not beaming instructions for chores into my brain anymore.” Kate bit into her sandwich. “I’m handling things just fine on my own in my dorm. Though my roommate does this irritating thing.”

           “What’s that?” Mrs. Riley took a bite of sausage.

           “Oh, she’s a bit passive aggressive. Plays these guessing games. She won’t just say what she means. I wish everybody would just say what’s on their mind, don’t you? Instead of expecting other people to read it—”

           “Kate, if you think you’re going to annoy me into telling you what we’re planning…”

           So, Kate thought to herself. Her mother was making a plan with some of the military officials. She didn’t enjoy teasing things out of her parents this way, but it was the price one paid for being a non-magical elf. She felt sure that if only she could have used telepathy, she would have been in her mother’s confidence. Instant understanding. It was like that between her mom and dad, when Dad had still been here. Only one glance between them, and they immediately knew what the other was thinking. When Kate was in the company of other elves, she sometimes felt as though she might as well be deaf. But a person who was always out of the loop had to figure out other ways of staying informed.

           At least there wasn’t a magic division at this school. That made it fairly easy for her to hide her deficit from the other students in the Combat division, who were mostly humans anyway. Her parents had given up on the idea of putting her into a magic school at an early age. But every once in a while, some stupid human would come up with a wisecrack. “Hey, you’re an elf! Show me some magic!” Kate hated those moments. Much better was the moment right afterward, when her fist connected with their stomach. She’d gotten suspended from primary school for that.

           Right now she was straining, straining as hard as she could to peer into her mother’s mind. She knew that if her mother suspected any intrusion at all, she would immediately throw up a barrier. But there was no barrier right now; she couldn’t feel a barrier, it was just that everything beyond those graceful eyebrows was a darkened blur.

           I need glasses, she thought. Glasses for the third eye.

           Her mother had removed her focus from Kate and back to the food, leaving herself even more open than before. In theory, telepathy was one of the easiest magics. She was thinking about something, something distracting with which she was preoccupied. But Kate wasn’t sure if she was picking that up from the dark shapes gliding inside her mother’s brain, or the lines on her forehead. If only she concentrated harder—a little harder—

           A face slipped into view. It was a boy, pale with messy brown hair. The feeling of guilt, and—Maybe he’s the one. But what if I spoke too soon? Piner supports him more than I’d expected. But why? He’s already well aware of the boy’s weaknesses. But he did say he wanted a student… he’s practically a child, how can we send him there after every

           The thought was interrupted mid-word and she saw her father’s face, almost clearer and brighter than life –

           “Kate!” Her mother looked up.

           Kate snapped back in the chair. She had been leaning forward, clutching the edge of the table intensely.

           “You were doing it!” She didn’t sound angry, only excited.

           “Mom! Keep your voice down.” Kate glanced around at the neighboring tables, but no one seemed to be listening.

           “Fine.” Her mother’s voice was lower, but still pleased. “You actually did it, I’m going to… well, I’m going to have to be more careful around you, young lady.” The barriers around her mother’s mind had already closed.

           Kate stared at a corner of the room, not looking her in the eye. “I guess so.”

           “I know you just want to be included. Believe me, I would let you in if I could.”

           “I know.” Kate balled up the sandwich wrapper and overhanded it toward the trash can. “Well, got to be going, Mom.”

           “Okay. See you later, honey.”

           “Yeah. Later.” Kate pushed her chair out and stalked away between the crowded tables.

           That face. The boy. She had seen it before. And luckily, unlike Major Piner, she was good at remembering names.

Next Chapter: Chapter Nine